

A range of clear lacquer safety coatings has been launched today under a new JCB brand called JCB Hydrogels – including a number designed to reduce disease transmission. The JCB Hydrogels brand range has been developed by JCB’s official licensee, QXE Industries Limited.
This includes Hydrogel 259, which is a contact antimicrobial lacquer that begins to kill bacteria and viruses, such as Coronavirus, MRSA, MSSA, E. coli, Influenza H1N1 and Murine Norovirus, as soon as they come into contact with a surface that is coated with the product.
This lacquer can be used alongside other antimicrobial products that are delivered in the form of gels, wipes and liquid cleaners. It also offers a preventative measure to promote healthier environments and provides an alternative to costly and time-consuming reactive measures such as deep cleaning of buildings after infection.
All of the range contain Retrace® Authenticals, a safety and performance authentication system for surface treatments and coating materials. By adding uniquely encoded RETRACE Authenticals during manufacture, surface materials can be scanned in-situ, with the RETRACE Authenticator, to verify they have been applied correctly and compliantly. Compliant materials will register a unique signature and the data can be uploaded onto a searchable database for recordkeeping and archiving.
See www.retraceauthentication.com for details.
Matthew Seal of JCB said “Each JCB Hydrogel in the range has each been individually tested and certified by independent laboratories to ensure efficacy. We are now looking for distributors to partner with our official licensee across the world who can stock and distribute large quantities to ensure global availability of these products.”
There is an unprecedented need to control the spread of Coronavirus in the built environment, and particularly within high-risk spaces such as hospitals, airports and transport hubs, educational or religious institutions, stadiums, conference venues and in offices.
COVID-19 is a new strain of Coronavirus and is not yet available for commercial testing however Hydrogel 259 has been tested against a proxy strain of Coronavirus from the same family in third party laboratory testing, with results to date showing:
- 96.84% reduction in Coronavirus count within 30 minutes of contact
- 99.71% reduction in Coronavirus count within 60 minutes of contact
As with all other commercially available virucides a definitive scientific confirmation of the effectiveness against COVID-19, can only be provided once the Coronavirus strain, COVID-19, has been released to commercial testing laboratories.
The lacquer can be applied to painted or unpainted clean and dry surfaces, free from dust, dirt or moisture, including metal, wood, glass, plastic and sealed masonry. Hydrogel 259 has long term effectiveness on rigid surfaces and should be reapplied annually to ensure protection.
JCB has worked closely with its official licensee to commercialise and bring to market this innovative range of products. The full range of proprietary JCB Hydrogels products include:
- HYDROGEL 135: A clear intumescent providing fire resistance that slows and potentially prevents the char front.
- HYDROGEL 257: Kills bacteria including MRSA, MSSA and E.coli.
- HYDROGEL 259: Kills bacteria and viruses including MRSA, MSSA, E.coli, Influenza H1N1, Murine Norovirus and Coronavirus.
- HYDROGEL 262: Kills Equine bacteria and viruses including Strep Equi Equi (Strangles) and EHV-1 and EHV-4.
- HYDROGEL 392: A clear non-slip coating for floors, steps and treads.
International patents are currently pending for the full range of JCB Hydrogels products. To ensure worldwide availability we are seeking distributors in many countries, regions and states. Any company interested should apply via the website: https://jcb-hydrogels.com.